Shortly after President Trump began his State of the Union remarks Tuesday night, the White House announced conservative talk radio host Rush Limbaugh would be in attendance.
Limbaugh announced earlier this week that he is battling stage four lung cancer.
"I wish I didn't have to tell you this and I thought about not telling anybody. I thought about trying do this without anybody knowing because I don't like making things about me. But there are going to be days when I'm not going to be be here because I'm undergoing treatment or I'm reacting to treatment," Limbaugh told his listeners.
The news prompted President Trump to award him with the Presidential Medal of Freedom during his address to the nation.
"Almost every American family knows the pain when a loved one is diagnosed with a serious illness. Here tonight is a special man, someone beloved by millions of Americans who just received a Stage 4 advanced cancer diagnosis. This is not good news, but what is good news is that he is the greatest fighter and winner that you will ever meet," Trump said. "Rush Limbaugh, thank you for your decades of tireless devotion to our country. Rush, in recognition of all that you have done for our Nation, the millions of people a day that you speak to and inspire, and all of the incredible work that you have done for charity, I am proud to announce tonight that you will be receiving our country's highest civilian honor, the Presidential Medal of Freedom. I will now ask the First Lady of the United States to please stand and present you with the honor. Rush, Kathryn, congratulations."
First Lady Melania Trump did the honors.